How Alaska is Addressing Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice Definitions

Alaska does not have any environmental justice laws or policies, and mainly follows the federal government’s definitions and requirements on nondiscrimination in the use of federal funds.

Environmental Justice Mapping Tools

While not environmental justice specific, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) maintains a searchable database of state landfills, solid waste treatment facilities, and solid waste storage facilities with status, location, authorizations (permits), and contacts for each site.

Environmental Justice as a Policy of the Environmental Agency or Across All Agencies

N/A

Consideration of Environmental Justice in Permitting

N/A

Consideration of Environmental Justice in Enforcement

N/A

Consideration of Environmental Justice in Land Use

DEC oversees the cleanup of brownfields and assists community organizations in the cleanup projects, although there is no specific environmental justice nexus in the discharge of this responsibility. As DEC notes, “[b]rownfields are abandoned, unused, or underused properties that are hindered from desired reuse or redevelopment by real or perceived environmental contamination.” The brownfields program strives to “work[] with local governments, tribes, and community stakeholders by providing information, funding, technical assistance, and other resources to facilitate the assessment, cleanup, and reuse of brownfields.” Partnership with local entities – city and borough governments, tribal councils, Native corporations, and community development organizations – is furthered through DEC Brownfield Assessments and Cleanups (DBACs). DBACs identify “contamination at a property, evaluate how the contamination could be managed to facilitate future use, and provide an estimate of cleanup costs.”

State Environmental Policy Act “Mini-NEPA”

N/A

Dedicated Funding to Environmental Justice Communities

N/A

Consideration of Cumulative Impacts

N/A

Prohibitions on Disparate Impact Discrimination

N/A

Established Environmental Rights

N/A

Environmental Justice as Part of Environmental Agency’s Mission

N/A

Environmental Justice as Part of Other Agency’s Mission

N/A

Processes and Procedures (including Title VI)

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT) and Public Facilities maintains a Title VI website, laying out its commitment to federal nondiscrimination law and setting out an annual review of its efforts to foster outreach and manage LEP issues.

Grievance Procedures

N/A

Enhanced Public Participation and Information Access

N/A

Language Access

Discrimination complaints may be filed with ADOT’s Civil Rights Office; translations are available in Spanish, Tagalog, and Korean.

Consultation with Indigenous Communities and Tribal Nations

N/A

Governmental Environmental Justice Structures, Positions, and Funding Streams

Environmental Justice Coordinating Agency

N/A

Environmental Justice Coordinator

N/A

Environmental Justice Advisory Board

N/A

Funding for Environmental Justice

N/A

N/A

Public Facilities
Alaska Department of Transportation
PO Box 112500 (mailing)
3132 Channel Drive
Juneau, Alaska 99811-2500

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
2200 E. 42nd Avenue
PO Box 196900
Anchorage, AK 99519-6900
Telephone: (907) 465-5061

Constitutional Provisions

N/A

Executive Orders

N/A

Legislation and Statutes

N/A

Regulations

N/A

Policies/Guidance

N/A

Mapping Tools

N/A

Other

N/A